Truss



Jan. 11s5 1949. A F. ,HOLLINGSWORTH 2,459,381

A 'muss l Filed Oct. 30, 1946 L Flip.

Patented Jan. 18, 1949 TRUSS Fred Hollingsworth, Grand Rapids, Mich.,as-

signor to Doctors Truss Company, Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation ofMichigan Application October 30, 1946, Serial No. 706,767

(Cl. 12S- 95) 4 claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in trusses.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a truss comprising a body portion molded integrally ofyieldable natural or synthetic rubber and having pads formed integrallytherewith.

Second, to provide a truss comprising a pair of resilient pads formingpart ora resilient body, the body being reinforced, the reinforcementcarrying attaching means for the supporting belt and positioning straps.

` Third, to provide a truss which is highly efli.- cient in supportingthe rupture or ruptures, and which may be effectively anchored orsecured in position.

Fourth, to provide a truss comprising an integral molded body and padswhich, while embracing a substantial area of `the body, is effectivelyventilated.

Further objects relating to economies and details of the invention willappear from the description to follow. The invention is dened in theclaims.

A structure which embodies the features of the invention is illustratedin the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front or outer side elevational view of a truss embodying myinvention, fragments of the supporting straps and belt beingillustrated.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section on a line corresponding to line2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary inner side view of the truss body, parts beingbroken away to show structural details.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

In the accompanying drawing I represents the belt or body strap and 2, 2the leg straps which are slidably secured by the loops 3 to the bodybelt. The body member of my truss comprises top, bottom, andintermediate horizontal members 4, 5, and 6 respectively. These membersare integrally joined at their ends by the downwardly converging endmembers 1 molded integrally with the horizontal members and havingelongated downwardly converging pads 8 on their innersides. The rearsides of the end members are provided with elongated recesses 9.

The bottom horizontal member 5 has an upwardly curved under side or WallI0 providing an arch or recess. The vertical connecting members II andI2 connect the horizontal members so that they are not distorted evenwhen under considerable stress.

The reinforcing member I3 is in the form of a flat blade or stripofmaterial, preferably spring steel, and its ends terminate in bosses I4on the inner edges of the recesses 9. This reinforcing member hasthreaded holes I5 in its ends, into which the headed studs I6 arethreaded. The lower ends of the end members are provided with slot-likeholes Il through which the front ends of the straps 2 are arranged,these straps terminating in couplingmembers I8 having key-hole slots I9therein engageable with the studs.

The body belt I is provided with terminal couplings 20 corresponding tothe couplings I8 and having key-hole slots therein engageable with thestuds. The belt is commonly adjustable, but that is not illustrated.

With the parts thus arranged, the pads are supported in proper positionfor a double hernia although the truss may be used for single hernia,the second pad being eifective as an anchoring element, that is, to keepthe truss from shifting on the body of the wearer, and to equalize anddistribute stress.

It will be understood that the truss may be made in various sizes,although one size pad is adapted for a considerable range of conditions,

I have illustrated and described my invention in an embodiment thereofwhich I have found highly desirable. Natural rubber of the desiredresilience and flexibility may be used, although certain syntheticrubbers are desirable on account of the slow deterioration factorresulting from contact with the body. The body of the truss may be quiteflexible so that it conforms readily to the wearer. The stresses areeffectively sustained by the reinforcing member I3, so that even thoughtthe truss is quite resilient it is not distorted when subjected tostresses due to body movement. I have not attempted to illustrate ordescribe further adaptions which I contemplate, as it is believed thatthis disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to adapt or embodythe invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a truss, a body member of molded yieldable material comprisingvertically spaced top, bottom, and intermediate horizontal members, anddownwardly converging end members integraltherewith, the end memberssubstantially exceeding the horizontal members in width, and havingdownwardly converging elongated pads on their inner sides moldedintegrally therewith and elongated recesses on their outer sides, the

horizontal members being integrally connected centrally thereof, asprin-gable blade-like reinforcing member` imbedded in the intermediatehorizontal member with its ends at the inner edges of said recesses, andattaching studs engaged with the ends of said reinforcing member andprojecting to the outside of said body member and adapted to be i.connected towsupporting straps for y'said truss.

2. In a truss, a body member of molded yieldable material comprisingvertically spaced top, bottom, and intermediate horizontal members, anddownwardly converging end members integral therewith and havingdown'wardlyIconh verging elongated pads on their innerrsid'es moldedintegrally therewith and elongated Lrecessesfon their outer sides, aspringable-blade-like.reinforcing member imbedded in the intermediatehorizontal member with its ends at the `inner edges of said recessescandattaching studs engaged ywiththe ends or" Asaid reinforcingmember.

..3. A truss comprising `-a 'boTdy-.ofmolded yieldahlelrnaterialiandconsisting of vertically .spaced top bottom, and intermediate,horizontal4memrbers .and downwardly converging end members vintegral -therewithand having elongated downwardlyboonverging .pads on Wtheir,inner=sides,the .end membershaving elongated frecessesintheir cuter.sides,` the undersideof the horizontalmember being upwardly archedwthehorizontalmembers being centrally connected,I therey ybeing a i flat,:Sorn-gable reinforcing Amember:im-bedded int'said intermediatehorizontal member, Hand outwardly ,projecting studseng-aged witlL-theendsof -fsaid reinforcing frnernber and-adapted .to 4recaen/eat- 4taching straps, the studs being positioned at the inner edges of thepads and centrally thereof, the end members having strap-receiving holesthrough the lower ends thereof opening to said recesses, the padsextending inwardly beyond the inner sides of said horizontal members sothat the inwardly directed stress of the straps is sus--tainedibyflthepads- Aitru'ss comprising aibodyfof yildable material andconsisting of vertically spaced top, botltom, and intermediatehorizontal membersand downwardly converging end members integralYtherewith and having elongated downwardly convergingpaislbn their innersides, there being a reinforcing member imbedded in saidintermedijfatehorizontalmember, and outwardly projecting `studs engagedwith the ends of said reinforcing member and adapted to receiveattaching straps, ythefstuds being positioned at the inner edges of thepads and centrally/thereof, the pads extendf ing inwardly beyond theAinnersi-desel? the #said horizontal members so that the pads sustain.itl-1e inward thrustof the 'straps when-the vtruss ,is in use.

wFRED.I-IOLLINGrSWO'R'IYI-I.

REFERENCES CITED The following lreferences areof ire'cordin' thefle''ffthisfpatent: i

1Liane i ','Mayfl 1,1943

